Diaspora engagement mapping INDONESIA Facts & figures Emigration Top countries of destination % of emigrants in % of which Saudi Arabia 1,667,077 total population in the EU Malaysia 1,225,156 United Arab Emirates 314,089 Honk Kong 174,380 Bangladesh 154,877 1.7% 4.0% 4,532,992 182,368 Political rights Dual citizenship1 55.0% 42.5% 45.0% 57.5 % Right to vote in national elections for citizens residing abroad2 INDONESIA Remittances as a share of GDP: 1.1% Voting from abroad: Remittances inflow (USD million): 11,679 By post Indonesia does not have a diaspora engagement policy. 1 2 1 Law Number 12/2016 on citizenship 2 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/some-overseas-indonesia-voters-face-problems-with-casting-their-ballots Overview of the policy and legislative framework 2016 Law Number 12/20163 governs citizenship and allows for the children of Indonesian nationals • married to foreign nationals to remain as a dual citizen until the age of 18, at which age they have to choose whether to remain an Indonesian citizen or give up the citizenship. 2016 Government Regulation Number 26/20164 enables former Indonesian nationals living abroad to • apply for multiple-entry five-year visas. 2017 Presidential Regulation Number 76/2017 on ‘Facilities for Indonesian Communities Abroad’5 • put into law the ‘Diaspora Card’/Kartu Masyarakat Indonesian di Luar Negeri (KMILN/Card for Overseas Indonesian Communities). The card is given to overseas Indonesians who voluntarily register themselves with the foreign ministry either in Jakarta or through their embassies. Itenables Indonesians abroad to apply for fast-tracked immigration processing during entry and exit from Indonesia as well as provides diaspora members who are still Indonesian citizens with the ability to open Indonesian bank accounts, own property and take part in business ventures. Trends: The direct government appeal to Indonesians abroad to either return home or contribute to Indonesia’s national development through financial or other means is in line with the message that the government has been projecting in recent times.6 In the past, governments have made similar appeals to overseas Indonesians to return home, but President Jokowi has amplified INDONESIA the rhetoric. The current government has sought to bring more foreign investment into key sectors, such as manufacturing, tourism, fisheries and infrastructure through diaspora bonds. It also seeks to increase remittances by asking the Indonesian diaspora to act as economic go-betweens in trade deals between Indonesia and host countries as well reducing the cost of remittances. The diaspora is lobbying for legislative changes that would allow them to maintain both material and emotional attachments with Indonesia, such as land ownership and business interests. In response, the government has promised to review the dual citizenship law and has proposed other initiatives to strengthen ties between overseas Indonesians and the ‘homeland’. Achievements: The diaspora card will allow the Indonesian government to keep more accurate data onits diaspora abroad, which will be useful for business and networking in the future. Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi stated that the data will be used to improve government services for the diaspora, which currently consists of only two full-time staff within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.7 The ministry’s Expert Staff for diaspora affairs, Niniek Kun Nasyatie, has added that the card will also be a useful form of identification and marker of diplomatic protection for Indonesia’s many domestic and foreign workers whose passports are often held by their foreign employers. 3 Unable to access the actual document, further information in this article: ‘Harnessing the potential of the Indonesian Diaspora’ by Charlotte Setijadi https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321145845_Trends_in_Southeast_Asia_HARNESSING_THE_POTENTIAL_ OF_THE_INDONESIAN_DIASPORA_CHARLOTTE_SETIJADI. 4 Unable to access the actual document, further information in this article: ‘Harnessing the potential of the Indonesian Diaspora’ by Charlotte Setijadi https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321145845_Trends_in_Southeast_Asia_HARNESSING_THE_POTENTIAL_ OF_THE_INDONESIAN_DIASPORA_CHARLOTTE_SETIJADI. 5 Presidential Regulation 76/2017 on facilities for Indonesian communities overseas: https://iocs.kemlu.go.id/assets/downloads/PER- PRES-76-THN-2017-KMILN.pdf 6 Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s first speech since being re-elected on 14 July, 2019 https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/ president-joko-widodo-delivers-first-speech-after-re-election-sets-out-vision-for 7 https://www.embassyofindonesia.org/index.php/2015/08/12/foreign-ministry-to-issue-indonesian-diaspora-card/. Obstacles •• Low level of government support: There is currently no special government branch to liaise with the millions of diaspora subjects living abroad, and there are presently only two dedicated officers for diaspora matters in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.8 •• Lack of societal support: The recent increase in nationalist rhetoric surrounding land and business ownership might cause some political pushback on the idea of land/business ownership by non- citizen members of the diaspora. Indonesia has traditionally held a deep distrust of foreigners and citizens living abroad. The idea of non-resident Indonesians receiving privileges through the diaspora card does not sit well with more conservative Indonesian politicians and public. •• Lack of representation: the lobby group Indonesian Diaspora Network has been lobbying for the Indonesian diaspora to have its own member of parliament representing a separate overseas electoral district in the national parliament. IDN members have complained that members of parliament have not properly looked after the concerns of Indonesians abroad. •• Poor implementation: There is a lack of clarity on details on special privileges for diaspora citizens who are citizens of foreign countries. The regulation states that benefits to diaspora Indonesians are to be administered by the relevant ministries and government institutions. There are many legislative, administrative and jurisdiction hurdles to overcome before the full benefits of the diaspora card are enjoyed. •• Enabling environment: Indonesian professionals and associations who are keen to contribute to Indonesia’s development lack the necessary information and guidance to do so. Professionals such as medical doctors face obstacles collaborating with Indonesians due to differences in work ethics and formal practices.9 There is also a lack of acceptance of foreign qualifications and difficulties in obtaining formal recognition of diplomas and certificates.10 INDONESIA SPOTLIGHT: effective practices Diaspora Connect11 https://www.facebook.com/pg/diasporaconnect.id/about/?ref=page_internal Founded in 2018, Diaspora Connect is a platform to connect Indonesians abroad with Indonesia. Its current focus is to find high-quality talent to contribute to any professional sector in Indonesia through an app. It also provides support to the returning diaspora, such as relevant job openings, networking through the diaspora community by holding events and offering options such as investments and bonds for the Indo- nesian diaspora to contribute to their country. NETWORKS 8 https://kemlu.go.id/portal/en/struktur_organisasi/100/special-advisor-to-the-minister-on-socio-cultural-affairs-and-indonesian-diaspo- ra-empowerment. 9 Indonesians in Germany – their engagement in the development of Indonesia, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenar- beit (GIZ) GmbH https://www.cimonline.de/static/media/giz2016-en-indonesia-diaspora.pdf. 10 Indonesians in Germany – their engagement in the development of Indonesia, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenar- beit (GIZ) GmbH https://www.cimonline.de/static/media/giz2016-en-indonesia-diaspora.pdf. 11 iOS and website are under construction. Annual Congress of Indonesian Diaspora http://congress.diasporaindonesia.org/ The congress, a project of the Indonesian Diaspora Network (IDN), is one of the largest gatherings of the Indonesian Diaspora. It seeks to raise the visibility of the Indonesian diaspora and its potential to contrib- ute to Indonesia. The 2019 congress had the theme of ‘Empowering Indonesia’s Human Capital’. The 2017 Congress was attended by around 6,000 overseas Indonesians and had former US President Obama as the NETWORKS guest of honour. Diaspora Forum12 The Indonesian Embassy in Berlin organises an annual Diaspora Forum. The forum also promotes a regular NETWORKS dialogue between the diaspora and the Indonesian Government. INDONESIA 12 Indonesians in Germany – their engagement in the development of Indonesia, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenar- beit (GIZ) GmbH https://www.cimonline.de/static/media/giz2016-en-indonesia-diaspora.pdf. Annex: List of Actors Diaspora related institutions •• At regional level Centrer for International Migration and Development (CIM) https://www.cimonline.de/en/html/index.html CIM supports the transfer of migrants’ social remittances such as their knowledge and skills to their coun- try of origin. It aims to encourage migrants’ role as mediators, bridge builders and knowledge bearers as well as strengthen the capacity of partners and institutions in the country of origin. •• National institutions {{ At ministerial level Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://kemlu.go.id/portal/en The Ministry issues the diaspora cards/KMILN and runs the website13 for